The Playing Arts series of decks has now produced five very popular decks of playing cards. But these aren't ordinary decks: all of them feature the work of 55 different artists from around the world. Each designer and illustration was commissioned to design a single playing card, with completely customized artwork. Each deck thus is created with the same basic formula: individual designs from 55 different artists are combined into a single deck.

This remarkable project has been organized by the same people behind Digital Abstracts, an online web design and digital art blog based in Spain. Here's how the Playing Arts team explains the concept in their own words:

"We have always been inspired by the outstanding works of illustrators and designers featured on our resource, so we came up with an idea to mix their differences in a single project. The idea of the project is to create a unique deck of poker playing cards where each card is individually designed by a different international artist. From the two of clubs to the ace of diamonds, each of 55 participants has illustrated a single card in their own individual style and technique. The project is called Playing Arts and each year we invite 55 designers and illustrators from all over the world to collaborate with us. Their particular styles and techniques convert a simple deck of cards in eclectic pocket-sized art gallery that can be shuffled and played."

The project has been an enormous success, received positive reviews in numerous design blogs and magazines, and has enjoyed an overwhelming amount of success and support on social media. Most decks were produced through Kickstarter, with Edition One produced in 2014, Edition Two in 2015, and Edition Three and Special Edition in 2016.

But prior to all this they had engaged 54 artists to create their very first deck, called "Creative Cards". Now dubbed Edition Zero, this original deck has been long sold out and there have been constant requests for it to be made available again. Finally, Edition Zero is returning with the help of this new Kickstarter project, which has already smashed the funding goal and is already around 1000% of the original target!

SAMPLE CARDS

The unusual design of the card-backs was created by young Georgian illustrator and graphic designer Giga Kobidze, while the Ace of Clubs shown here was work of David Delin, a self-taught French artist from Nantes.

Some of the cards, like both of the Hearts shown here, are semi-transformational designs, that incorporate the shape of the pips as part of the artwork.

Others feature the pips in other striking ways as elements of the artwork.

And yes, there are certainly colourful cards included as well, like these somewhat psychodelic diamonds.

AUGMENTED REALITY

But there is something new and special about the deck this time around: animations with augmented reality!

The design team is using the latest augmented reality technology to display animations in real world through a mobile AR app. What that means is that using the free app, you point the camera on your phone/tablet at a card, and you'll see the card come to life with animations!

See some examples over on the Playing Arts website, such as the Jack of Diamonds, and Seven of Clubs. The animations on the website look just like the actual printed cards will appear with the augmented reality app.